Iole was quick to temper expectations but it appears others are running with the story.

As much as I’d like to see it, I’m very pessimistic about Lindland returning to the UFC anytime soon, and I’m not even concerned about him being let go in 2005 after he displayed a logo for an unapproved sponsor.

First, Lindland wants to be paid good money. I think the asking price he’s gone for in the past is justifiable but it doesn’t matter what I think. Unless he drops his asking price and is willing to offer the UFC exclusive promotional rights, he might not be economically viable for the company.

Other hurdles include Lindland’s affiliation as a coach with the sworn enemy of the UFC, the IFL, along with his friendship with Dan Henderson. It doesn’t make sense for the UFC to pay big money for Lindland if he’s not going to be in the middleweight title picture. If Henderson beats Anderson Silva for the middleweight title on March 1 at UFC 82 in Columbus, Ohio, then Lindland can’t go for the title.

Besides all the other hurdles with Lindland getting signed with the UFC again, the Henderson situation is the first thing that came to my mind. If either he or Lindland ever became champ you basically eliminate one of, if not the top contender for the belt. And in a division that thin that’s a very hard thing to work around.

Lindland and Hendo do not have a problem with facing each other, for the right amount of money. I cannot provide a direct source to this as I have heard it said on Sherdog radio many times. I think they said it again last week.

Thank you, Captain. The mentality of guys like Hendo and Lindland isn’t like that of say Jardine and Evans; they view this thing as a sport and also understand the business side of things. There’s no doubt in my mind that the two would throw down with each other if it made sense in the division. On top of that I’m also sure the two sides could come to an agreement now that Lindland has openly stated he wants to return. Is Bodog going to pay him more per fight based on the drawing power of the terribly promoted Fedor-Lindland? Is the IFL going to offer him more exposure? Is EliteXC going to offer him the quality of opponents the UFC can offer? I think the answer to all three of those is no. On top of that, with Filho in the WEC for the foreseeable future, the UFC middleweight elite consists of Silva, Hendo, and Franklin; it clearly needs some star power.

Sam, I think you’re being a little too negative here. While Dana’s comment isn’t positive, I think it’s either more of Dana simply being Dana or even a negotiating tactic; Dana publicly stating he hasn’t even given it thought implies that the Lindland needs the UFC much more than the UFC needs him, despite the validity of it. I think we’ll see Lindland sign with the UFC before the title fight in March and probably before that. Evan Tanner still needs an opponent on that card anyway. What better way to set up a new contender than put those two guys against one another?

Sam has some great points. I don’t see Lindland fighting for the title if Hendo has it, and I don’t see Lindland making the concessions he would need to make to get back in the UFC. He’s kind of an old guy with a limited shelf-life, too. Lawler or Cung Le would be a much better investment.

Wouldn’t it be great if the wrestling geeks forgot about MMA and found their next infatuation?

Seriously … if Vince McMahon had a hamburger for lunch and then two weeks later Dana White had a hamburger for lunch, there would be six wrestling geeks here posting that this is proof about the similarities between wrestling and MMA.